Search form

Polar bears are back at the zooSince a few days, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are housed again at the zoo.
Lale, 5 y.o, and...Monday, March 18, 2019 - 08:45

Our elephants are together!After several weeks of progressive and protected contact under the close supervision of the keepers...Thursday, February 28, 2019 - 10:20

History

June1966

The zoo opens, covering 2.5 hectares and housing 160 animals.

September1966

129,500 visitors are recorded in the first season!

1974

Arrival of the first gorillas, King-Kong, Natacha, Annette and Martha.

1975

Construction of the giraffe enclosure and arrival of its first couple, Roby I and Sophie.

1978

Arrival of three orangutans (Borg, Lotus and Tiba) from Twycross Zoo in England. At the same time, the zoo sees its first gorilla birth – a female named Sabrina.

January1979

Sophie gives birth to her first baby, a female called Kitrie.

1980

Construction of the monkey house. The zoo sees its first colobus monkey birth.

1981

The zoo extends to more than 4 hectares.

1984

Construction of the iconic flamingo rock at the entrance to the zoo and of the rhinoceros enclosure. In August 1984, the zoo welcomes its first white rhinoceros couple, Noëlle and Whist, from Holland and England respectively.

1985

The sea lions put on their first show at the zoo!

1986

Birth of a polar bear.

1988

Reconstruction of the hippopotamus enclosure.

1989

The zoo sees its first sea lion birth – which is also a first in France!

1990

Georges de Caunes lives alone for 2 weeks on one of the zoo’s islands to observe humans from the point of view of animals.

1992

Construction of the new Asian elephant house and area: Shinto, Malicia and Alix discover their new home! The African plain is laid out. The zoo has now doubled in surface: it covers more than 9 hectares.

1995

A new nocturama becomes home to more than 300 Egyptian and Rodriguez fruit-bats.

1996

Construction of the vivarium and the polar bear basin. The latter contains 1,000m3 of filtered water and includes 34m2 of 7cm-thick glass! The zoo now covers 14 hectares.

2002

The zoo welcomes some African wild dogs.

2007

Beginning of the construction of an ape area on unused land in the northern part of the zoo, behind the African plain with its ostriches, zebras and impalas.

April2009

Opening of the ape area after more than 2 ½ years of work. It houses a group of chimpanzees, a group of orangutans and 5 gorillas. The zoo now covers a total of 18 hectares.

2011

Demolition of the old gorilla and chimpanzee building next to the lake and construction of a new building for lemurs and capuchins.

March2011

Death of Claude Caillé, zoo founder.

September2011

Death of Irène Caillé, wife of Claude Caillé.

April2012

Opening of the new enclosure for the greater kudus near the ape area.

November2012

La Palmyre sees its first white rhinoceros birth!

2013

Construction of a new quarantine building and also an enclosure for the bongos where the old greater kudu enclosure stood.